PS 3531 
.fl67 S7 
1911 
Dopy 1 




Stories of Bird Island 




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Stories of Bird Island 

BY 

MATILDA ALLEN PARSHLEY 

Author of 

" Leaves from Sippican " 

"Letters to Father" 



COPYRIGHTED APRIL, 191I 
M. A. Parshley 



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TO 

AUNT SUE AND UNCLE CHARLES 

This Little Book is 
Lovingly Dedicated 



INDEX 

A Siren 7 

Introduction 9 

The Bird Island Pirate .... 11 

The Old Belle 13 

Hidden Treasure 15 

A Rescue 17 

The Celebrity 18 

A Race With The Tab 20 

Music Hath Charms 22 

An Encounter With A Shark ... 23 

An Island Tragedy 25 

When The Light Failed .... 27 



A SIREN. 

A dainty siren nodding to the breeze, 

Her tiller tugging for its gay release; 

Were ever golden summer days like these? . 

A silver winged gull sweeps to the blue, 

A sigh, half rosemary, half rue; 

Ah, me! Was ever joy of brighter hue? 

I hear the rush of waters 'gainst her keel 

The tiller pushing 'gainst my side I feel; 

Ah, me! My siren sings: What matters woe or weal? 




CHARLES A. CLARK 

BIRD ISLAND 1871 

TRANSFERRED FOR MERIT TO PALMERS ISLAND 1891 

VOLUNTARY RESIGNATION 1908 



INTRODUCTION. 

The Three Braids were comfortably seated in 
the old boathouse, their laps full of molasses 
cookies. 

The rain was swishing on the tiny windows 
and outside they could hear the waves beating and 
breaking against the sea wall. 

Far out beyond the lighthouse wicked little 
whitecaps were cresting each angry, thunderous 
wave. Uncle Charles was busy on one of those 
tiny models of racing catboats that were the chief 
decoration of the little lighthouse. 

The Three Braids were using their most en- 
ticing arts to get a story and it was not long before 
Uncle Charles launched into the story of The Bird 
Island Pirate. 



THE BIRD ISLAND PIRATE. 

The first light keeper took charge of the Island 
about the time of the War of 1812. 

The townspeople whispered that he was a 
pirate and an outlaw, and certainly his wife lived 
a sad and lonely life enough. 

His wife was a Boston beauty of prominent 
family, who eloped with her pirate cavalier one 
dark and stormy night and after various changes 
of fortune they came in charge of this lonely little 
island, set like a beautiful emerald in the circle of 
the land-locked harbor. 

By this time Mrs. Moore's beauty and her hopes 
had faded and she would have had a cruel enough 
time if the kindly townspeople had not practiced 
all kinds of devices to smuggle her solaces, snuff 
and tobacco to her. For as she was wasting with 
consumption these were only relief. 

Once, with the aid of these same kind friends, 
she made her escape to Ruggles' Point, where old 
Capt. Blankinship was prepared to defend her with 
his life, but her husband followed her and pleaded 
eloquently that she abandon her plan of returning 
to her own people. Her pirate husband took her 
back to that emerald prison which she never was 
to leave again until the dark angel came to her 
rescue. Not long afterward the townspeople heard 
of her death and it was whispered that he killed 
her. There was a lonely burial on the Island. 



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When the quaint old stone house with its | 
tiny windows was pulled down to make room for a 
frame building a secret cupboard was discovered 

containing some ore with glittering veins, a bag of i 

snuff and a paper calling down the curses of heaven j 

on those people who had aided and abetted Moore's \ 

wife. Soon after his wife's death Moore and his | 

son disappeared and were never heard of after, < 



12 



THE OLD BELLE. 

The Three Braids had gone out in the tender 
with Uncle Charles to see if the Belle was secure 
for bad weather. They plied him with questions 
while he busied himself about the cabin. 

We found the Old Belle here when your Aunt 
Sue and I were down to Bird Island. She was a 
trusty friend and won me many a race. I remem- 
ber one in particular when I had a challenge from 
the Beverly Yacht Club to race at Onset. Tab 
and I reefed her down well, the wind was blowing 
free, and we started a little behind the others. 
Well, we were gaining on them every tack when 
suddenly one of the boats with a big sail took our 
wind and tried to crowd us onto a lee ghore. I 
said I know another game worth two of that so 
I luffed up, let the other get ahead, crossed her 
stern and crowded her on the inside as I knew 
that boat drew more water than mine. In a 
minute I heard a bump and a curse and I knew 
that man was safe for half an hour at least. 

Well, we sailed in ahead of all comers. The 
next day some of the yachters brought us $15 in 
gold and said that they had never seen a boat 
go like the Old Belle. 

Once she took it into her head to sail off 
alone with two little skiffs, and she was half way 
to Onset before I could catch her. 



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She surely was a faithful old boat, both in 
sickness and in health. Many a time when Aunt 
Sue was sick and I made a trip for the doctor I 
never expected to see her come out of those seas, 
and I never hated to leave a live animal as much 
as I hated to leave her. 



14 



HIDDEN TREASURE. 

The Three Braids sailed down to the island 
to make a little visit. One Braid was fair and 
flaxen with a curl on the end, one was auburn and 
full of heavy waves, and one was brown, turning 
toward chestnut. 

Well, the three arrived toward dusk, and 
after a hearty supper they soon tumbled into bed 
and went fast asleep. 

In the morning after dishes were done they 
decided to hunt for Hidden Treasure. 

Somewhere, they were convinced, on this 
island was a spot where the first keeper had buried 
pirate gold. 

All night long, the night before, they had 
dreamed of chests of gold. 

Uncle Charles gave them much advice and a 
witch hazel stick; Aunt Sue gave them a substan- 
tial lunch and a bottle of coffee. Thus armed and 
provided they started off. The flaxen Braid carried 
a hoe and a clam basket, the auburn Braid, who 
was tall and slender, carried a pail and a fire shovel, 
and the chestnut Braid, who was round and roily, 
carried a tin spoon and a dish pan. 

Now the Three Braids started off in the best 
of spirits. Uncle Charles had bidden them look on 
the shore as well as in the rocky nooks. But, alas 
for good spirits. The flaxen Braid tumbled into a 
mud hole for which she loudly blamed the auburn 
Braid. 



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The auburn Braid got wet to her knees in a 
vain attempt to catch a fast swimming fish, while 
the brown Braid stumbled over a stone and scolded 
the other two for trying to run away from her. 
After that all three quarreled violently and fell to 
in sullen silence on their lunch, though it was only 
ten o'clock. When the lunch was gone they sulked 
and separated and went hunting Hidden Treasure 
on the shore. Soon the maid with the auburn hair 
found clams and the other two dug furiously until 
they too began to fill their receptacles. 

Well, the tide crept up and found three busy, 
happy girls, for the last sulk had flowed out on the 
ebbing waters. When the tide got too high for 
further digging three tired, hungry girls turned 
toward the house with their receptacles full of 
Hidden Treasure. For what is more hidden than a 
clam or more to be treasured than the results of 
hard work? 



16 



A RESCUE. 

The Three Braids were comfortably seated 
around Uncle Charles in the boathouse waiting for 
that story that was sure to come. 

"One cold, snappy evening when I was a little 
shaver a coal schooner anchored off the island and 
got frozen in. The ice was too thin for us to 
get to her or for her crew to get ashore. But 
finally made desperate by lack of provisions three 
of the men put forth on the ice and tried to make 
their way to shore. 

"Father was watching them with the spyglass, 
when all at once he saw one of them break through. 
He hurried to the boathouse, found a heavy coil 
of rope, spliced on a smaller piece, made a loop 
for Lion, the dog, with fish cord and a stick for a 
bit and sent him out to the little boat. He trotted 
faithfully out to the rescue. 

"A strong northeaster was forcing the boat 
along even with the ice to interfere, so everything 
depended on Lion. He made straight for the flound- 
ering men and soon father and I had them safe on 
shore. Nothing would do after that but they must 
take Lion back in the boat of provisions and show 
him to the rest of the crew. 

"He was a very conceited dog whenever any- 
one said rescue." 



17 



THE CELEBRITY. 

The Three Braids were seated about the even- 
ing lamp, each with her bit of mending, for though 
they loved not to sew they loved less to offend 
that stern priestess of the needle. Aunt Sue. Uncle 
Charles, after several imploring words from the 
brown Braid, cleared his throat and began: 

"One day Brother Joe and I sighted something 
huge and queer off the southeast rocks. 

"Joe got down the spyglass, but we could 
neither one make anything of it. We watched and 
waited until we saw it slip into the water with a 
great splash, and only a wide ripple and a huge 
black head was to be seen. 

"After that we hurried down to the boat- 
house and set forth in the Old Belle's tender on a 
voyage of discovery. When we got out there we 
found that it was a huge sea tortoise. I caught 
him with the boat hook and before we knew what 
had happened the boat was whirling round and 
round in ever widening circles. 

"He was more than going, but after a long 
struggle we managed to make him fast to a rope 
and towed him ashore. We lashed to the old float 
stage and went into dinner. I happened to look 
out of the window and there was float, stage and 
all, high and dry in the salt meadow, traveling 
along with a strange steed. 



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"Well, we towed him to the Point and started 
him off for the Cattle Show. We weighed him 
before he went. He weighed eight hundred and 
fifty pounds, and his mouth was big enough to 
take in a man's head. 

"He died on the way to the fair and his shell 
is now on exhibition in the Boston Museum." 



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A RACE WITH THE TAB. 

The Three Braids were seated comfortably on 
the boathouse platform drying their hair after a 
salt bath when Uncle Charles came and seated 
himself comfortably with his jackknife and a hand- 
ful of sticks to make kindlings. 

The little Tab was bowing and scraping to 
every passing breeze. 

Did I ever tell you of the time that we were 
summoned to Mattapoisett to race the Tab. 

It was blowing a good southeaster, and, as 
you know, Mattapoisett harbor is much more open 
than ours. Well, when Charlie and I got over 
there all the boats of our class refused to put out. 

"Well," said I, "I have come and I am going 
to race." So Charlie shook out the sail and reefed 
it down pretty well and I took the helm. We were 
half way round the triangle when a gust hit us, 
the tiller knocked me in the side and over we 
went. 

Well, the rest all sailed away, laughing, while 
Charlie and I swam out from under her, straight- 
ened her up and we started again. 

No one paid much heed to us as they thought 
that we had given up, but not a bit. 

I said, "Now, Charlie, you take that old keg 
and get out what you can and when we get on the 
course so that the wind is fair you can finish 
bailing." Well, we crept up and crept up, and 
Charlie bailed and bailed, and before the others 



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were round the course for the second time we were 
well onto their heels. Then they began to realize 
that we meant business, and when we got to the 
third time round the course the old Tab sailed in 
two boat lengths ahead of the rest. 

And didn't they cheer. They clapped and 
shouted and swung their hats till I didn't know 
which way to look. 



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MUSIC HATH CHARMS. 

The Three Braids had been gathered at the 
little organ playing chopsticks with a swing and 
vigor peculiarly their own when Uncle Charles 
gave a premonitory hem and the music ceased. 

The Fall before Charlie went away from home 
he used often to go down to the boathouse with 
his violin and practice by himself. Well, one night 
he was watching the water and playing "Home, 
Sweet Home," when he saw a black furry head 
appear above the water, and then another, and 
finally two smaller ones. There were four seals 
that used to come up each night and listen. 

They would crawl out on the rocks and keep 
as still while he was playing, and as soon as he 
stopped there would be a splash and they would 
disappear until the next night. 

Well, this went on until one night some fel- 
lows went by in a rowboat. One of them took a 
chance shot at the seals, and after that they never 
appeared again. 



22 



AN ENCOUNTER WITH A SHARK. 

The Three Braids were comfortably seated 
around the little what-not admiring its foreign 
birds and other trophies. 

The auburn Braid picked up a shark's tusk 
and demanded a story. 

Uncle Charles immediately launched forth. I 
got that one winter when I went swordfishing, he 
replied. 

My two brothers and I were in a little fishing 
smack at the mouth of the bay and we were 
getting plenty and plenty of swordfish. 

There was a trail of blood behind us, for we 
were cleaning the fish as we went along. 

Well, I put off in a little dory to spear an 
extra fine swordfish when all at once I noticed a 
quiet eye watching my labors. When I looked 
again I saw that it was a fifteen foot man-eating 
shark, and he was lying lazily along the side of 
the boat watching every move I made. Well, I 
was frightened, and the men on the boat were all 
busy catching or cleaning. I had just landed the 
swordfish when he made a lunge and struck the 
keel of the boat until I thought that it would float 
off in splinters. 

But just as he lunged I struck him with the 
spear right between the eyes and killed him. The 
other men heard the noise and rushed to the 
rescue. 



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They pulled me in pretty short order, for his 

death struggles were something awful. It took j 

all the crew to land him, he was so heavy. He j 

weighed nine hundred pounds. j 

I decided to go below, for I had had all the ; 

swordfishing that I wanted for that day. ■ 



24 



AN ISLAND TRAGEDY. 

The Three Braids were out in the boatshop 
with Uncle Charles while he washed and made 
ready for the clam car, those clams which they 
had just dug. 

"What is this funny old gun. Uncle Charles?" 

"Oh, that's the gun that my brother William 
shot himself with. 

"William and my sister Emily, who was just 
married, and her husband, were all alone on the 
island. Father had gone ashore for provisions. 
Frank, as we called him, who was a great gunner, 
took his gun and sauntered down to the boathouse 
to look for sea fowl. 

"It was the Fall of the year and the little 
water witches were plentiful. 

"Frank stood leaning his elbow on that jamb 
that you see there. Somehow his elbow slipped 
and that knocked the hammer of the gun and the 
grape shot into his side and came out of his 
shoulder. 

"He walked up to the house smiling, but sad, 
said that he could hear the bells off shore. 

"Sister Emily saw that his shoes were full 
of blood and that his ear was gone. 

"She sent Warren to lower the flag at half 
mast for father. 

"Father saw it right away and started for Dr. 
Ellis, but as it was blowing a heavy southeaster, 
no one would take him back. 

25 



"Finally the captain of the Pomponet told 
father that he would set him ashore at any cost. 
So they provided themselves with a doctor and 
started in a whale boat. 

"By the time that they got there Frank was 
pretty well spent, but as he was only eighteen at 
this time, life was strong in him and he got better. 

"He only lived two years after that happened, 
and father never got over it." 



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WHEN THE LIGHT FAILED. 

The Three Braids were seated on the steps 
watching the light flash and wink and flash again 
through the gloom of dusk. 

Uncle Charles descended the lighthouse and 
seated himself near. 

He cleared his throat and the Three Braids 
sat up very straight, for they knew a story was 
coming. 

There was a man here once by the name of 
Mowry who was transferred to the lighthouse as a 
reward for some work of his. 

He and his wife and little girl moved here 
one cold, ice-bound winter. He didn't know the 
first thing about a boat, and during one cold snap 
his provisions got low and his little girl was taken 
sick, so he set to work to signal for help. 

Well, the first day he rigged a flag and it 
floated all day long, and the child got sicker and 
sicker. No help came. The second day he tried 
lanterns and adjusting the light so its action was 
different. 

The child grew worse so fast that his heart 
grew faint with fear. He tried to put off in a row- 
boat, but only succeeded in breaking an oar, so 
that he just managed to get back to the island. 
The third day the little girl grew steadily worse, 
and he and his wife were nearly insane from grief 
and anxiety. 



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There was only one thing to attract attention 
now. If he let the light go out his career was 
ruined, but his child was dying. At six o'clock 
that night no light gleamed over the black waves. 

A woman who climbed to her look-out attic 
in search of something found that the light wasn't 
burning. Instantly she hurried to her husband 
and he went to the keeper's assistance with some 
seamen tried and true, but the light and the young 
life had gone out together and these brave men 
found only a broken hearted mother and a despair- 
ing father. 

The mother left the Lighthouse with her dead 
baby wrapped in an old shawl and she never saw 
Bird Island again. 



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JUN 22 mi 



One copy del. to Cat. Div. 
nn f 1811 




